Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald is confident in all-rounder Cameron Green’s potential roles in the ODI team as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The team will begin their preparations with an ODI series against Pakistan starting May 30.
With Glenn Maxwell stepping away from ODIs, Australia aims to strengthen their lower order, which will be important on the challenging pitches in South Africa, where the new ball can be particularly dangerous.
Before facing Pakistan and then Bangladesh, McDonald discussed how they plan to utilize Green’s strengths to fill Maxwell’s position.
“He has the talent to bat in various positions. Last year against South Africa, he showcased his ability to finish innings, and with Maxwell absent, we’ve discussed how he can contribute,” McDonald said on ESPNCricinfo.
Additionally, McDonald emphasized the importance of Green’s bowling skills for the team’s strategy.
“We remain flexible in our approach. While ‘experiment’ isn’t the right term, we are exploring different ways to play as we work towards the 2027 World Cup. Green’s versatility with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset,” he added.
In the recent Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), Green had a varied season, scoring 322 runs across 14 innings with an average of 32.20 and a strike rate of 145.70, including two half-centuries. He also took seven wickets in ten innings, having returned to bowling after managing his workload with Cricket Australia.
Australia Considering Tim David for ODIs
Meanwhile, Australian selectors are considering adding Tim David to the ODI team. He has only played four matches in this format back in 2023. The batting lineup is changing after the retirements of Maxwell and Steve Smith, and there are several players competing for the middle-order spots.
To address this, McDonald mentioned that they plan to speak with David about his potential involvement in ODIs, although he has yet to make himself available.
“We’re looking into it. Tim hasn’t made himself available for ODIs due to his other commitments, but we are open to discussing this in the future. He would need to express his interest in playing ODI cricket again. He contributed during our last World Cup preparation,” McDonald said.
“David has the potential to fill the finishing role at No.7. However, for now, he is not available,” he added.
Australia will face Pakistan in the first ODI on Saturday, May 30, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second match is scheduled for June 2, followed by the third ODI on June 4 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.